Magnetic Springs, Ohio

Green Bend
The original community in the Magnetic Springs area was called Green Bend. In 1881 the name was changed to Kokosing to honor the indians.

Kokosing
This is the name given to present day Magnetic Springs in 1881.

Magnet City
This is another reference to Magnetic Springs.

Magnetic Springs
Magnetic Springs grew up around the spring that was discovered on the property of J. E. Newhouse when he was digging a well to supply water to his pond. The spring was discovered in 1879. By the next year a dozen houses existed on the site. A bath house and hotel accommodations were soon built for visitors to the village. Also, by 1882 the population of the village floated between seasons from 300 to 500. The village was able to support two hotels, a bath house, two grocery stores, a hardware store, a jeweler, a billiard parlor, a meat market, a livery stable, a blacksmith shop, and a photo gallery. The town was officially incorporated in 1883. By 1903 a trolley was running between Delaware and Magnetic Springs. This line was extended to include Richwood. By 1919 the automobile had made this trolley line obsolete. In 1949 there was a mob presence in the village.

The exact date of Leesburg first school session can not be found. But, it is believed that an early school was held in a log school house by Samuel Pharis, just south of Pharisburg. Another early teacher in the township was Naomi Carney. At one time there were as many as twelve one room school houses in Leesburg Township. These school houses included the Magnetic Springs, Stringtown, Half Acre, Elliott, Styre, District Number 2, Pharisburg, Hildreth, Blackhawk, Bonnette, Bluescreek, and Beechgrove schools. The Magnetic Springs frame school house was erected in 1882 with O. C. DeGood serving as the first teacher in the village. The Magnetic Springs School pictured was erected in 1914. The consolidated Leesburg-Magnetic Springs School was organized in 1937. The school building in Magnetic Springs was used for this district.